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Monday, April 4, 2011

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Here is a great way to turn the outdoors into a game your children can enjoy over and over again. Better yet, they can create themselves! Use your backyard, playground, favorite park, or campground, in a Nature Scavenger Hunt!

Step 1 - Make a List

Your neck of the woods (ha ha.. get it?) might not have all of the same goodies as another part of the country, or world for that matter, so come up with a list of things that you can find in the places you and your children visit. Better yet, make this part of the fun! Visit a favorite spot and ask your child to go out and collect 20 or so different items. You can then use the items to come up with your list.

Make sure you include some variety and throw in some unusual items. For example, we added something man-made and a bug to our list to make it more fun. You can add items to make your list more challenging, or not. It is up to you! We felt that 18 cards were a good number to search for.

Here is our list...

- a pine cone

- an acorn

- a smooth rock

- a dry leaf

- a leaf bigger than your hand

- a "Y" shaped stick

- a clover

- a weed

- something man-made

- a flower

- a feather

- something red

- something shaped like an oval

- a smooth-edged leaf

- something curved

- something shiny

- pine needles

- bark from a tree

- a bug

- moss

- a berry

- a mushroom

Step 2 - Create Your Cards

Design a card for each item you have selected for your list. You can cut your cards out ahead of time, or simply fold your paper into 9 sections like we did below.

Next, allow your child to write the name of each item, and draw a picture to go along with it. Have younger children draw the pictures and you can write the item below each picture. That way they are still able to join in on the fun.

Here are my daughter's completed cards...

Make sure to include a card for the cover of your Scavenger Hunt collection.

Cut your cards out if you didn't cut them out before you created them.

Step 3 - Laminate

If you can do so, I recommend it! It cost me less than $2.50 to laminate 18 cards at the copy shop, and your child's cards will last much longer. Not to mention the fact that they look so snazzy, don't you think?

Trim around your cards, but be sure not to cut right to the edge. You want to keep a border of laminate around each one so the sides of your cards don't fray apart or get damaged if they get wet. Once the cards are cut, punch a hole in the corner of each.

Step 4 - Tie Them Together

Add the cards to a large ring or string them onto a cord. I chose to use a piece of jute twine since it has a nice "nature" feel to it. I made it long enough that it could be worn around the wrist during play, and added some wooden beads to finish it off.

I strung all 18 cards, with the cover on top, onto a piece of twine about 15" in length. I then held both ends of the twine together and threaded on three wooden beads.

Next, I tied a knot on the end, to secure the beads and the cards.

And there you have it!

Step 5 - Make a Bag

It's a scavenger hunt, so you are going to need a place to collect all of your treasures, right?! You can use a large Ziploc bag, a paper bag or something else you might have around the house. If you are really crafty, you can create one.

I made a big with some scrap fabric, adding a casing to the top to thread more jute twine through for a drawstring top.

Now you're ready to play!

Children can play alone, race against others, or work as a team. You may even want to award a prize to your child, or each team, once they have successfully collected each item on their Nature Scavenger Hunt list.

I know I can't wait to get out to do this with my kids! It's been a long winter!!! :)

Great blog! I just hopped over from the UBParty! I love the Easter egg bunny and chick--I might need to try that with my kiddos--SO CUTE!You got a new follower--and would appreciate a follow back! Thanks!

Thanks everyone!! I find that this is a perfect activity when we are camping. We have used it when we are setting up camp as a way to keep the kids entertained. The kids love it, and it is a new game every time. We love it!

I have come over from ABCand123 and am delighted to have now discovered your creative and inspiring blog.

I love that your children created the cards - what a special treasure hunt. It makes it all the more memorable because your children were involved with the brainstorming and making the cards. Such a lovely touch to have a special bag too.

I am your newest fan from the Ultimate Blog Party 2011. I would really appreciate it if you follow me back through Google Connect Friend. I have a lot of contest going on Madame Deals. $25 amazon gift card, Vera Bradley purse, $100 in jewelry, 200 cut coupons, bare minerals gift pack, $30 for an organic outfit, $75 P&G products, and the chance to win $1000. Thank you Amee

I love this!..thanks for sharing,I visiting from Amaze me Monday,dittledattle.Thank you for sharing this, it gives me such a great idea, I'm going to try this for family get together.This will be so much fun, I thinking I'll make a list and send each family memeber a clue and they can bring thier item with current family photo, and we will make a first ever family album,with thier item from thier "neck of the woods",I'm already getting excited about this project,whooohoooHey I'm new follower, come for a visit to LazyonLoblolly and see what me and the Mr made this weekend for our herb garden.Follow back if you will.~JoLazyonLoblolly

this is so fun! I had some cards on my computer when I was using Before Five in a Row, a lady on the forumns had shared them with me, but my computer crashed, and I lost the cards and forgot about the idea. I am glad you shared! My kids will have so much fun with this!(they were too young at the time so I was waiting till they got older to use the cards)

OMG...I love this!! My daughter is about to turn 10 and her party is going to be a the state park close to our house. I cant wait to tell her what i found. Thank you for the idea and for sharing. We are going to have so much fun preparing and partying!!

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Welcome!

Hi! I'm Rachel. I am thrilled to have you here. I am a crafty mom with a passion for teaching. You will find lots of inspiration on these pages, so give the kids a coloring book and take a look around!